1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Trifles take place at a farmhouse in a secluded area in the MidWest. The year is not given, however, because of the attitude of the men I can infer it took place before women suffrage. Sexist comments toward the woman throughout the play indicate that men showed a low level of respect and held a certain perspective of what women should be doing. The play takes place in the kitchen which is described as gloomy and undone. The men in the play imply that Mrs.Wright was a bad housekeeper, therefore a bad wife/woman in general because of how unorganized it was. The kitchen is symbolic because at that time it is considered a "women's place", therefore supposedly reflecting the woman herself. The time of year implied is winter, this emphasizes depression and isolation not only outside but inside the household. Although it is a small town, no one seems to know much detail about Mr. and Mrs. Wright., this creates confusion when the characters walk into the home and hinder the investigation because no one can infer why Mrs.Wright would kill her husband.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion takes place when Mrs.Hale and Mrs.Peters find a strangled bird in a "pretty box" while searching the cabinets of the kitchen. The women lie about the whereabouts of the bird to cover up any motives the men might create in order to keep Mrs.Wright behind bars. They believe Mrs. Wright may have strangled the bird which would connect her to her husband's death who was also strangled.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play intentionally takes place in a dreary, cold, lifeless area to depict the emotions of Mrs.Wright and the relationship between her and her husband. The conditions of the kitchen accurately created an idea of the inner conflict experienced by Mrs.Wright. The women notice a broken bird cage, they question when she got a bird, and where the bird could be. In Mrs.Wright's sewing kit, they find the bird in a "pretty box". The realization of what could possibly have happened to the bird raise concerns and create intensity for the reader.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Did Mrs.Wright kill her husband? Who strangled the bird? Will the County Sherriff find out about key evidence being withheld from him by Mrs.Hale and Mrs.Peters? Will justice be served?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
Mrs.Hale experiences constant conflict between herself and society. She is disappointed in herself for not being in Mrs.Wright's life and continuously refers to Mrs.Wright as Minnie Foster. This creates guilt because she feels as if she could have helped Minnie Foster stay the joyful girl she once was and perhaps prevented the series of events that had followed after Mrs.Wright got married. Mrs.Hale also experiences conflict between her and society. Her viewpoint shifts when Mrs.Peters expresses her opposing opinion on if Mrs.Wright is justified in her actions. Mrs. Peters believes "the law is the law", while Mrs.Hale believes Mrs.Wright was morally correct for allegedly killing her husband.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The emotions and actions of Mrs.Wright is a theatrical moment because it makes the reader question why she acted the way she did. It also helps the reader create a position, whether they think she did or did not kill her husband. The discovery of the bird is also a theatrical moment because it gives the reader more evidence to use against Mrs.Wright. The discovery of the bird is also the intrusion which creates tension for the readers. It creates several questions such as, What will they do now? or Will the County Sheriff ever find out?
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1) The Bird
The bird is an image because it reflects Minne Foster. The pretty feathers correlate to the pretty clothes she used to wear and the voice correlates to the angelic voice Minnie Foster had when she sang. The bird being strangled represents how broken Mrs.Wright. The way she killed the bird reflected the anger she had towards her husband. 2) The Messy Kitchen
The messy kitchen creates the image of chaos in Mrs.Wright's life. Her circumstances created internal conflict and the condition of the kitchen turns her frustration into a visible image. 3) The Preserves
The preserves are a representation of women. While the men laugh at Mrs.Wright worrying about her preserves while in custody for murder, the woman relate and acknowledge the stress created by losing such hard work. The men don't recognize the long hours working just to make small things to put on the food table. They don't understand what it is like to be a woman who works for her husband's happiness. However, the female characters in the play do, which is how they found the dead canary. They found it in between the little things.
The title Trifles symbolize the way men look at women and how trifles can become significant after all. If the women didn't search "a woman's place" which is the kitchen, the would have never found what could possibly solve the mystery. Also, the title symbolizes how men think of women and their task as trifles. It shows how underappreciated woman was back in that era.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Several themes such as feminity, masculinity, confinement, and isolation play a role in reading between the lines and understanding the intention of the author. The play shows a clear divide between men and women and displays through images how women can feel trapped in a marriage. It also creates imagery of isolation, not only in the household but within the town itself.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
Trifles shows the outcome of a family not being present. If Mrs.Wright had a family, would she have been depressed or would her family bring her joy? If she had a family, she may not have reached her breaking as fast, or maybe her relationship with her husband would have improved. Mr. and Mrs.Wright shall never know.
Trifles take place at a farmhouse in a secluded area in the MidWest. The year is not given, however, because of the attitude of the men I can infer it took place before women suffrage. Sexist comments toward the woman throughout the play indicate that men showed a low level of respect and held a certain perspective of what women should be doing. The play takes place in the kitchen which is described as gloomy and undone. The men in the play imply that Mrs.Wright was a bad housekeeper, therefore a bad wife/woman in general because of how unorganized it was. The kitchen is symbolic because at that time it is considered a "women's place", therefore supposedly reflecting the woman herself. The time of year implied is winter, this emphasizes depression and isolation not only outside but inside the household. Although it is a small town, no one seems to know much detail about Mr. and Mrs. Wright., this creates confusion when the characters walk into the home and hinder the investigation because no one can infer why Mrs.Wright would kill her husband.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion takes place when Mrs.Hale and Mrs.Peters find a strangled bird in a "pretty box" while searching the cabinets of the kitchen. The women lie about the whereabouts of the bird to cover up any motives the men might create in order to keep Mrs.Wright behind bars. They believe Mrs. Wright may have strangled the bird which would connect her to her husband's death who was also strangled.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play intentionally takes place in a dreary, cold, lifeless area to depict the emotions of Mrs.Wright and the relationship between her and her husband. The conditions of the kitchen accurately created an idea of the inner conflict experienced by Mrs.Wright. The women notice a broken bird cage, they question when she got a bird, and where the bird could be. In Mrs.Wright's sewing kit, they find the bird in a "pretty box". The realization of what could possibly have happened to the bird raise concerns and create intensity for the reader.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Did Mrs.Wright kill her husband?
Who strangled the bird?
Will the County Sherriff find out about key evidence being withheld from him by Mrs.Hale and Mrs.Peters?
Will justice be served?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
Mrs.Hale experiences constant conflict between herself and society. She is disappointed in herself for not being in Mrs.Wright's life and continuously refers to Mrs.Wright as Minnie Foster. This creates guilt because she feels as if she could have helped Minnie Foster stay the joyful girl she once was and perhaps prevented the series of events that had followed after Mrs.Wright got married. Mrs.Hale also experiences conflict between her and society. Her viewpoint shifts when Mrs.Peters expresses her opposing opinion on if Mrs.Wright is justified in her actions. Mrs. Peters believes "the law is the law", while Mrs.Hale believes Mrs.Wright was morally correct for allegedly killing her husband.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The emotions and actions of Mrs.Wright is a theatrical moment because it makes the reader question why she acted the way she did. It also helps the reader create a position, whether they think she did or did not kill her husband. The discovery of the bird is also a theatrical moment because it gives the reader more evidence to use against Mrs.Wright. The discovery of the bird is also the intrusion which creates tension for the readers. It creates several questions such as, What will they do now? or Will the County Sheriff ever find out?
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1) The Bird
The bird is an image because it reflects Minne Foster. The pretty feathers correlate to the pretty clothes she used to wear and the voice correlates to the angelic voice Minnie Foster had when she sang. The bird being strangled represents how broken Mrs.Wright. The way she killed the bird reflected the anger she had towards her husband.
2) The Messy Kitchen
The messy kitchen creates the image of chaos in Mrs.Wright's life. Her circumstances created internal conflict and the condition of the kitchen turns her frustration into a visible image.
3) The Preserves
The preserves are a representation of women. While the men laugh at Mrs.Wright worrying about her preserves while in custody for murder, the woman relate and acknowledge the stress created by losing such hard work. The men don't recognize the long hours working just to make small things to put on the food table. They don't understand what it is like to be a woman who works for her husband's happiness. However, the female characters in the play do, which is how they found the dead canary. They found it in between the little things.
The title Trifles symbolize the way men look at women and how trifles can become significant after all. If the women didn't search "a woman's place" which is the kitchen, the would have never found what could possibly solve the mystery. Also, the title symbolizes how men think of women and their task as trifles. It shows how underappreciated woman was back in that era.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Several themes such as feminity, masculinity, confinement, and isolation play a role in reading between the lines and understanding the intention of the author. The play shows a clear divide between men and women and displays through images how women can feel trapped in a marriage. It also creates imagery of isolation, not only in the household but within the town itself.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
Trifles shows the outcome of a family not being present. If Mrs.Wright had a family, would she have been depressed or would her family bring her joy? If she had a family, she may not have reached her breaking as fast, or maybe her relationship with her husband would have improved. Mr. and Mrs.Wright shall never know.